House Democrats Support America’s Priorities

In the first session of the 111th Congress, Democrats worked on issues of importance to Americans, sending major legislation to the President’s desk and passing numerous others through the House. While Democrats continue to make progress on growing the economy and creating jobs, they are also addressing other priorities, including energy independence, reforming health care, and reforming and investing in education. However, during these important votes, the majority of House Republicans voted against America’s future, siding with special interests over their constituents on Main Street.

Economic Recovery & Job Creation

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act– H.R.1 – (Signed into law)Is on track to create or save 3.5 million jobs, gave 95% of American families a tax cut, and invests in the future – in clean energy, health care, and infrastructure – to put our nation back on the road to recovery and transform it for long-term growth and stability.*NOTE: 100% of House Republicans voted against job creation and tax cuts.

Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act– H.R. 3221 – (Passed by House)Strengthens higher education and puts our country on a better fiscal footing by ending wasteful subsidies to banks and instead lending directly to students. Those savings are then invested in increased financial aid for college students, better community colleges, and paying down the deficit.*NOTE: 96% of House Republicans voted against providing access to an affordable education for America’s students.

Consumer Protection

Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act– H.R. 4173 – (Passed by House)Creates tough new rules and brings accountability to Wall Street, protects Americans from the abusive and predatory lending practices that contributed to the crisis, and helps ensure that taxpayers will never be asked to bailout big Wall Street banks again.*NOTE: 100% of House Republicans voted against the best interests of their constituents on Main Street to protect Wall Street big banks and the financial sector.

Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act– H.R. 11 – (Signed into Law)
Restores the rights of women and other workers to challenge unfair pay – to help close the wage gap where women earn 78 cents for every $1 a man earns in America.*NOTE: 98% of House Republicans voted against their female constituents’ right to equal pay for equal work.

Affordable, Quality Health Care

Affordable Health Care For America Act– H.R. 3962 – (Passed by House)Lowers health care costs for families and small businesses, preserves and provides choice of doctors and health plans, expands access to coverage for an additional 36 million Americans, enhances benefits and services for seniors, and includes significant new protections that will benefit all health care consumers.*NOTE: 99.5% of House Republicans voted against affordable, quality health care for their constituents.

State Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization– H.R.2 – (Signed into Law)Provides health care coverage for 11 million children, including an additional 4 million uninsured but eligible.*NOTE: 77% of House Republicans voted against providing health care to low income children.

Family Smoking Prevention & Tobacco Control Act– H.R. 1256 – (Signed into Law)Grants the Food and Drug Administration authority to regulate the advertising, marketing, and manufacturing of tobacco products.*NOTE: 59% of House Republicans voted against helping prevent the #1 cause of preventable U.S. death.

Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act– H.R. 2920 – (Passed by House)Restores the law that turned record deficits into surpluses in the 1990s, addresses the deficit by holding America to the principle that the government ought to pay for what it buys, and helps reverse years of reckless spending by the Bush Administration.*NOTE: 86% of House Republicans voted against restoring fiscal responsibility and addressing the deficit.

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On Tuesday, The House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for legislative business and recess immediately. The House will reconvene at approximately 10:45 a.m. for the purpose of receiving, in a Joint Meeting of Congress, His Excellency Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel.